Experiences of SME participation in FP6 and FP7 Tomasz CICHOCKI Polish FP7 NCP Workshop on FP7 - Opportunities for SMEs Chişin ă u, 09 October 2009

Main issues

SMEs in FP6 Source: NCP SME network

SMEs in FP7 (COOPERATION) More than 6000 SMEs got funding in the first two years In COOPERATION the funding share of SME participants comes to 12.3% (15% target) Average EU requested contribution per SME € Source: 3rd Progress Report on SMEs in FP7, DG Research, June 2009

SMEs in FP7 (COOPERATION) Source: 3rd Progress Report on SMEs in FP7, DG Research, June 2009

SMEs in FP7 (COOPERATION) 33 %: Research based companies 22 %: ICT companies (comprising hardware, software and ICT service companies) 16 %: Consultants (split off from "service companies" as a specific category) 12 %: Machinery and equipment (including precision and high tech devices) 9 %: Service companies (all services except "consulting") 8 %: Materials Source: 3rd Progress Report on SMEs in FP7, DG Research, June 2009

Total participations in eligible proposals up until 31/12/2008 Source: 3rd Progress Report on SMEs in FP7, DG Research, June 2009

Beneficiaries in signed grant agreements up until 15/5/2009 Source: 3rd Progress Report on SMEs in FP7, DG Research, June 2009

Research for the Benefit of SMEs SME Beneficiaries in signed grant agreements by country up until 15/5/2009 Source: 3rd Progress Report on SMEs in FP7, DG Research, June 2009

Typical project - REWARD Research on Energy, Water and Chemical Agent Reduction in Commercial Dishwashers FP6, Cooperative Research for SMEs

Typical project - REWARD About commercial dishwashers in European hotels, restaurants or canteens Consumption of 19 mill. m³ of drinking water, 2.6 TWh electrical energy, tons cleaning agent Goal: reduce these figures by about 50%

Typical project - REWARD RTD supplierKatholieke Universiteit Leuven, BE Fachhochschule Münster, DE SME-partnerSeaking, PL Millenniumpore, UK Copperline, DE Other companyHobart, DE End userStudentenwerk Münster, DE Budget: € 1.8 mill, EU contribution € 1.2 mill

Innowacja Polska Sp. z o.o. Consulting and R&D company Mission of Innowacja Polska is to develop and transfer new technologies to the manufacturing industry Established in 2003 as a joint venture of the British organization Pera Group and the Kraków - based Polish company Energocontrol. In April 2007, Energocontrol became the exclusive owner of Innowacja Polska.

Innowacja Polska Sp. z o.o. Participation in FP initiated by foreign stakeholder Seven projects within the 6 th European Framework Programme – Waveshift, Clearbrush, Lotpim, SafeTalk, Nanotube and Citybee Participant and coordinator

VIGO System S.A. R&D/Production company 20 years of experience in designe and manufacturing of high performance uncooled IR photodetectors and accessory products 2nd place in the rank of 500 Polish most innovative companies (SME category)

VIGO System S.A. Invited to the FP proposals by foreign partners 2 successful proposals (of 7 submitted) – FP7 Pros: Coollaboration of companies with diffrent types of expertise Financial support Cons: Communication problems in large consortium

Obstacles – EC Expert Group’s view The administrative burden of making a proposal to the FP is an especially big disincentive for SMEs. Key barriers to SME participation in the IST thematic priority, for example, were the nature of the consortia; financial issues; instrument related issues; and contract negotiations, as well as SMEs’ limited knowledge of the detail of the FPs. Nonetheless, the weight of evidence from existing studies suggests that participation in the FP does bring important benefits to SMEs. Source: Evaluation of 6th FP, Report of the Expert Group, February 2009

Obstacles

Advantages – participant’s view Formation of new links/collaborations Information about technologies/process See how other companies work New supply chain partners Access to bigger markets through new partners Shared-risk development of new products Source: PRODEST Project, FP6

Advantages

Need information? Practical guide

How to get involved? Find a reliable partner Use the NCPs (National Contact Points) Use the Commission help-desks and project officers Use experienced project participants Listen to experienced evaluators

Conclusions SMEs play an important role in European economy (and in FP) FPs are not for everyone Key issues: Networking Information